Design
The original U10 sported the Direct-Click (D-Click) navigation system which, back in 2005, was probably the only thing that could give the iPod's Click Wheel a run for its money. Fast forward to 2006 and the D-Click is still the niftiest thing going. Though the tactile controls are no longer hidden behind the four sides of the screen, the location of the navigational buttons in a cross-slot formation beneath the screen makes for an easier one-hand user experience.
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We enjoyed fooling with the new buttons; they were large for a player of this size (96 x 45 x 14mm) and offered a positive tactile touch no less firm than the Click Wheel. Like the U10, the E10's menu layout is easy to figure out. Pressing the right button will lead the user to the next menu layer, while the left button will bring the user back up a notch. The up/down keys serve as navigation within the current menu. Holding down the right button will bring up a contextual sub-menu relevant to the current highlighted feature, i.e. song rating during music playback, etc.
We like the E10's UI for its simple organic nature and the fact that it provides full functionality without the accompanying complexity that's inherent in rival MP3 players.
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Other physical controls include a volume rocker switch on the left of the unit, a power button, a configurable Smart Key and a slider control. The Smart Key is almost akin to the shortcut button on the Creative Zen Vision:M. However, unlike the Singaporean-made player's version which will call up a list of features, the iriver Smart Key can only be tied to one of five functions (home screen; play/pause; shuffle all; A-B repeat; start/stop record). It's less configurable than we would have liked, though.
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Inch for inch, the E10 is far larger than the iPod nano, and even next to the bulbous Cowon iAudio 6, it's still formidable in size. The saving grace? It's the care taken in the E10's design. Like the cult phone, the Motorola Razr V3, the E10 shares the same edgy and minimalist lines. Buttons like the volume rocker are highlighted with a raised profile and clean flowing lines are evident throughout the player's form. It's an MP3 player the Creative Zen series can take a design leaf from.
It's rare that we would cite the carrying pouch but the E10's deserves some mention. Made of grey felt, the pouch differs from other bundled pouches with its base design that facilitates easy removal of the E10.
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